Sarah Michelle Gellar has announced that Hulu has decided not to move forward with “Buffy: New Sunnydale,” the highly anticipated revival of the iconic 1990s supernatural drama that was set to bring back Gellar in her signature role .
The actress broke the news directly to fans in an emotional video shared on her Instagram on Saturday, March 14, just one day after she had been promoting the project in interviews .
“I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me,” Gellar, 48, said in the video. “Unfortunately, Hulu has decided not to move forward with ‘Buffy: New Sunnydale'” .
A Passion Project with Oscar-Weighted Credentials
The revival, first announced in February 2025, was shaping up to be a prestigious continuation of the Buffyverse. Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland,” “Eternals”) had directed the pilot, with “Poker Face” alums Nora and Lilla Zuckerman attached as writers . The project was described as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse,” focusing on a new Slayer while Gellar reprised her role as Buffy Summers in a recurring capacity .
“Ryan Kiera Armstrong (“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew”) had been cast as the new Slayer, with additional cast including Faly Rakotohavana, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, Daniel Di Tomasso, and Jack Cutmore-Scott. Chase Sui Wonders had also filmed a guest-starring role as a vampire named Shirley .
Gellar used her announcement to express gratitude toward Zhao, who she credited with helping her rediscover her connection to the character.
“I want to thank Chloé Zhao, because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish, yet affordable boots,” Gellar said. “And thanks to Chloé, I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means, not only to me, but to all of you. And this doesn’t change any of that” .
‘If the Apocalypse Comes, You Can Still Beep Me’
Signing off with a nod to one of the series’ most beloved catchphrases, Gellar added: “I promise, if the apocalypse actually comes, you could still beep me” .
The news sent shockwaves through the show’s dedicated fanbase. Comments on Gellar’s Instagram post flooded in with reactions ranging from disbelief to heartbreak.
“This is heartbreaking,” one fan responded . Another wrote, “BIG MISTAKE @hulu YOU WILL REGRET THIS. THE WORLD IS NOT WELL” . Some fans began tagging other streaming platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Apple TV in the comments, hoping another service might resurrect the project .
Why Was It Cancelled?
While neither Hulu nor Gellar provided an official reason for the cancellation, industry reports suggest the pilot’s fate had been uncertain for some time. According to sources cited by Deadline, the pilot from 20th Television and Searchlight TV was reportedly “not perfect,” and there were questions about whether Zhao’s directorial sensibility was the right fit for the material .
However, the same reports indicate that Hulu remains interested in the Buffy universe and could potentially introduce a new incarnation of the franchise at a later date .
A Long Road to ‘Yes’
Gellar had previously spoken at length about the difficulty of committing to a Buffy revival. In an interview with ComicBook.com just one day before the cancellation announcement, she revealed that it took her years to come around to the idea .
“It’s still taken us four years to get to this place because I would say, ‘Yes,’ and then I would call a month later and say, ‘No. No, no, no. I can’t,'” she explained . “Mind you, I also said no to Chloe many times in the beginning, as well. Her passion, and her reasoning for wanting to do it, and why now, and why it is necessary” .
She had also shared her vision for the revival with Vanity Fair, promising a tonal shift from the original series’ later seasons. “It will be lighter than the last few seasons of the original,” Gellar said. “We will try to find a balance between new and old characters. My dream is to bring back everyone who has died, but space will have to be made for new stories as well” .
The creative team had hoped to modernize the themes for contemporary audiences, particularly exploring what it means to feel like an outsider in a world dominated by social media .
The New Slayer Responds
Armstrong, the young actress set to take on the mantle of the new Slayer, also addressed the cancellation on social media. In an Instagram Story message, she thanked the creative team and fans for their support, writing, “It’s not going anywhere. So who knows what the future will hold” . She also shared a first look at her character in the show with a post captioned, “🖤 your slayer” .
A Legacy That Endures
The original “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003, amassing a devoted cult following and earning critical acclaim for its clever blend of horror, humor, and drama, as well as its exploration of adolescence as a metaphor for demonic struggle . The series also launched a spinoff, “Angel,” which ran for five seasons .
While “New Sunnydale” will not see the light of day on Hulu, Gellar’s parting words left a sliver of hope for fans: the apocalypse hasn’t come yet, and her pager—metaphorically speaking—remains on.
